Networking follow-up templates that feel human
A networking follow-up should arrive within 48 hours, name the exact moment you met ("the espresso-line rant about CRMs"), give something before asking anything, and end with a low-pressure next step or no ask at all. Here are four copy-paste templates: the day-after note, the useful link, the intro offer, and the months-later revival.
Template 1: the day-after note
Send within 48 hours of meeting, while you are still a face and not a name tag. The only goals are to be remembered and to open a channel.
Subject: good to meet you at [event]
Hi [Name], good to meet you at [event] yesterday. Still thinking about your point on [the specific thing they said]; it reframed how I see [topic].
No agenda here, just glad we talked. I'll connect on LinkedIn too. If the [topic] conversation is ever worth continuing, I'm easy to find.
Template 2: the useful-link follow-up
Send within a week, when you find something that maps to a problem they mentioned. Giving without asking is the fastest trust builder in networking.
Subject: the [thing] for your [problem]
Hi [Name], you mentioned wrestling with [the problem] when we talked at [event]. Came across this and thought of you: [link, with one line on why it is relevant].
No need to reply, hope it's useful. Good luck with [the thing they were working on].
Template 3: the intro offer
Send when you know someone they should meet. Offering an introduction makes you a connector, which is the most valuable role in any network.
Subject: you two should probably meet
Hi [Name], you said you were looking for [the thing]. My friend [Other Name] does exactly that, and is genuinely good; we worked together on [context].
Want an intro? Two-line email, and no awkwardness if either of you passes.
Template 4: the months-later revival
Send when a real trigger appears: their news, a launch, a topic you discussed showing up in the wild. Acknowledge the gap in half a sentence and move on; no groveling.
Subject: from the [event] espresso line
Hi [Name], we met at [event] back in [month] and talked about [topic]. I just saw [their news: the launch, the new role, the post], congrats, it looks great.
It reminded me of that conversation. If you ever feel like comparing notes on [topic] over a call, I'd genuinely enjoy it. Either way, happy to see things going well.
Let the team run this for you
Orbit makes the follow-up possible by catching people before you forget them. The Chrome extension saves anyone from LinkedIn in one click, and Ivy the researcher enriches the new contact with email, socials, and background, so the day-after note has substance. Every later conversation lands on one timeline, and when threads go quiet for 3+ days, Tess drafts the bump for your approval.
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Frequently asked questions
How soon should you follow up after a networking event?+
Within 48 hours. You are competing with the decay of memory, theirs and yours: the conversation details that make a follow-up feel personal evaporate within days. A short note while the event is fresh beats a polished one sent two weeks later.
What should a networking follow-up email say?+
Three beats: name the exact moment you met and something specific they said, give something if you have it (a link, an idea, an intro), and end with a low-pressure line like "easy to find if the conversation is worth continuing". Specific and short beats long and eager.
Should you pitch in your first follow-up?+
No, unless they explicitly asked about your services when you met. A pitch in the first follow-up retroactively turns the whole conversation into prospecting, and people feel it. Build the connection first; the business conversations come from people who trust you.
Is it better to follow up on LinkedIn or by email?+
Use the channel that matches the depth: LinkedIn for light connections where you mostly want to stay visible, email when there is something of substance to say or share. A good pattern is both: connect on LinkedIn the same day, and send email when you have a real reason.
How do you follow up with someone you met months ago?+
Wait for a genuine trigger, like their launch, new role, or a post they wrote, then lead with it: "saw the news, congrats, it reminded me of our conversation about X." Acknowledge the gap in half a sentence at most. The trigger makes the timing feel natural instead of random.
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